Fort Wayne eyes limits on donors getting public contracts

November 27, 2017

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — A proposal that would ban companies from bidding on public contracts if they donate more than $2,000 in a calendar year to an elected city official’s campaign has won preliminary approval in Fort Wayne.

The city council voted 6-3 last week in favor of the proposed ordinance, which is expected to go to a final vote Tuesday.

Under the measure, companies and any employee who owns more than 7.5 percent of a company would be limited to an aggregate total of $2,000 in donations per calendar year or $8,000 per four-year election cycle.

The Journal Gazette reports the measure’s sponsors say it’s needed to curb the appearance of impropriety when major campaign donors are awarded municipal contracts.